Improvement in low-water detecters



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

G. W. HEWIT'I AND J. B. HALEY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.`

IMPROVMENT IN LOW-WATER DETECTERS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,544, dated May 8, 1866.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, G. W. HEWITT and J. B. HALEY, of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Chio, have invented a new and Improved Low-Tater Detecter; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying` drawings, forming part of this specitication, in which- Figure l represents a vertical central section ot' this invention, the line .r or, Fig. 2, indicating the plane of section. Figzz is a side elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

rfhis invention relates to certain improvements on a low-water detecter known in the trade as Ashcro'ts Patent Low-Tater Detecter.7 This detecter consists of a tube rising vertically from the boiler and terminating on its topin a spherical air-chamber. From lthis vertical tube extends a horizontal arm which is closed at its outer end and from which rises a steam-whistle. The channel leading through this horizontal tube, and forming the communication between the vertical tube and the stealuwllistle, is closed by a disk of easily-fusible metal, and a stop eock in the vertical pipe serves to open and close the communication between the upper portion of said pipe and the steam-boiler.

By the improvements which form the subjectmatter of this present invention the construction of this instrument is considerably simplified, its cost reduced, and its operation improved, as will be readily understood from the following description.

A represents a tube which rises from the boiler in a vertical direction, its lower end being made to extend to such a depth thatit will be closed by the water in the boiler until the same sinks below the level of the lowest gage-cock. This tube extends up to a stop cock, B, and it continues from said stop-cock up to a coupling, C, which unites the same with the steam-whistle D, the tube A, coupling C, and whistle being all in a straight line, as shown in the drawing.

The coupling C provided with an internal ange, a, which is intended to support the fusible disk b, said disk being secured between the inner end of the shank of the whistle and the flange a, as clearly shown in the drawing.

The air-chamber, which in Ashcrofts detecter is used to receive and hold the cold water accumulating in the pipe, we do not use, not only because the same is superfluous, but because we consider it actually injurious to the correct operation of thcinstrument. l

When the stop cock is opened too soon in Ashcrofts detecter all the cold water accumulating in his air-chamber, and the hot water coming in contact with the fusible plug or disk melts the same, and an opening is made through which the water or steam rushes out. It is therefore necessary with Ashe-toits instrument to temper the water at least one hour before the cock can be fully opened, and the utility of' the instrument is impaired.

In our instrument the stopcock can be opened as soon as steam is raised in the boiler, or whenever it may be desirable, and the cold water standing in the pipe A, having no chance to escape, will prevent the hot water coming in contact with the fusible plue.

By doing away with the air-chamber we are furthermore enabled to place the steanpwhistle on the upper end of the pipe A, and to dispense with the lateral arm, which still t'urther reduces the expense of the instrument.

The operation ot' our instrument is precisely the same as that of Ashcrofts, with the exception that we are able to open the stop-cock at any time without danger of melting the fusible disk.

IVe do not claim as our invention the use ot` a fusible disk or plug` in a low-water detecter; neither do we claim, broadly, the combination ot' such fusible disk or plug with a steamwhistle; but

Te do claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A low-water detecter constructed as described, as a new article of manufacture.

Cr. NV. HEWITT. J. B. HALEY.

Witnesses J B. HoEEsMAN, TH. P. OoEEY. 

